By Rhonda Bartle

Back home: Kate Goddard looks through her album of NASA memories

Unexpected Flight to Space School

When Kate Goddard (16) was told she'd won a place at the International Space School (ISS) in Houston, Texas, she wasn't sure she really wanted to go.

"I thought everyone there would be super smart and I'm like a drama student! I rang Mum up and told her I'd been chosen and she said, 'But you don't like space!'

"No, I never made craters out of my mashed potatoes," laughs Kate, who studies science and physics at New Plymouth Girls' High School.

Despite not showing an early enthusiasm for spaced-out things, Kate wrote a letter of application that impressed others so much she was chosen for the course.

"I've known other girls who have gone and how much they got out of it," she says.

It turned out to be a whole lot more fun than she expected. "That first week, it was all about sightseeing and visiting NASA and Mission Control."

And, of course, watching Discovery lift off.

A launch pad for space cadets

The ISS began in 1994 as an introduction to the space industry for keen students, and the number of those accepted has risen steadily over the years, from three students from one country in the first year, to 36 students from 20 countries in 2005.

Often, it becomes a launch pad for students who go on to choose academic paths to suit a space age career.

In July and August 2005, Kate Goddard joined Lee Wilson (16) of New Plymouth Boys' High School, and 34 other students from all around the world.

They spent two and half weeks at the University of Houston, Clear Lake, Texas, and the NASA Lyndon B. Johnston Space Center, Houston.

"Before I left, I had to do lessons and I was like, wow, this is kind of amazing!" Kate says.

"Now I can understand how interesting space is. I used to think it was just there."

Definitely a convert

Now, back at home, Kate is a definite space junkie.

Being at NASA while the space shuttle Discovery lifted off helped make the space race come alive.

Though Discovery was launched at the Kennedy Center, Florida, Houston took control as soon as it was airborne.

"We were like the Discovery ISS team because of the shuttle, so their journey was our journey.

"It's so amazing," Kate says, "being in a place where everyone is excited about the same thing.

"Over here, we're nowhere near the space industry, it doesn't really matter to us, but over there, there are all these people who simply live for space.

"It's relevant to them. Everyone's cheering! It made me appreciate it all. It made me like space. I've seen something happen. Now, I can understand why people get so worked up about it."

Besides, she says, there is more at stake in the space race than people realise.

"We're the generation who needs to know how to get resources from space. We need to know more about it," Kate says.

On the Green Team

Some of the time at International Space School is spent working on complex team projects: spacecraft/space base design, moon base construction, and how to go about working on Mars.

As part of the Green Team, Kate and her colleagues designed a complete mock-up habitat to be used by the first manned mission.

 "We were supposed to be the White Team but they thought we'd get the White T-Shirts too dirty, so they gave us Green," she says.

As well as planning the living quarters, the team selected three topics from a long list to research and discuss in detail.

These included gravity issues, nutrition and exercise, radiation and climate hazards, recreation and interpersonal relationships.

At the blackboard: Green Team works out solutions to space-age problems

Space suits and tips for tired astronauts

For Kate, space travel is more about people than equipment, so she quickly warmed to the idea.

"Our team was the least scientific team," she says. "It was about living there, life support, it wasn't about propulsion.

"It was a very female-oriented group, with only two males. We were different. It was fun."

The Green Team came up with ways to keep space explorers fit and well.

"We designed all sorts of relaxation techniques to keep people psychologically healthy. Imagine being on a planet for 500 days!"

They also designed "a crazy suit, using our imagination" with support systems which even Kate admits probably wouldn't be practical, not even in the far-distant future.

"At the moment they use water to keep the astronauts cool, but we made this air conditioning system…"

She smiles."Well, one of our lectures was about basic design and I'm interested in fashion design.

"It was not really about fashion at all, but if I was to go into space, that's where I'd want to go."

A NASA fashion statement, but not one of Kate's designs

A clear view from planet earth

But this doesn't necessarily mean she's in a hurry to go to the moon. Kate holds some enlightened views on some aspects the space industry.

"Personally, I have issues with human space flight. It's pretty bad for people, psychologically, physically…

"It's something I did a lot of research on, and it's why I chose the Living There team because it was focussed on health.

"Also, once you become an astronaut, or you go into space, you have all these special privileges awarded to you.

"You can't be prosecuted for any crime, you can't go to prison. So I think in future, people will abuse the situation.

"At NASA, space law is now a big thing. They're really worried that people will pay to go into space, pay their money to get off their fraud case, that sort of thing…"

Global Warming

But for Kate, being at ISS was a much wider experience than simply getting down and dirty in spaced-out classes. It meant embracing a whole new global community.

"My host family was amazing. Their house was in the middle of Clear Lake, which is where the base is, so it was 10 minutes drive to NASA.

"Both my host parents had parents who had worked on base, so they were part of the space community," Kate says.

"I've never been billeted in my life before, not even on school trips. They were a family with four daughters, three of who lived there all the time and one who came back for the summer holidays.

"Then there was me and two other girls so it was one big house of girls!"

Kate made friends with students from Mexico, Kentucky and England, and an English student is likely to visit her in New Zealand at the end of the year.
 
One German girl became her closest companion and they now email or chat over the Internet.

"Everyone just clicked as a tight bunch and we can't wait for the reunion," Kate says.

A reunion of all past ISS students has been planned for 2007.

What does the future hold?

So, what does the future hold for Kate? Will she look towards a career in the space industry or follow her passion into the creative arts?

For a while she did consider a career in aerospace. "I'm good at science but I don't enjoy it. It would be amazing to work in the space field, but the reality of getting there from New Zealand…"

Her biggest decision since coming home has been whether to keep her sciences or let them go. "I'm keeping my options open," she says. "But I'm going to do drama."

But she knows that, contrary to what people might think, you need to be creative to 'do space'.

"Those people are so creative. You have to be able to think outside the square."

Up close and personal

Kate says she'll always consider herself extremely lucky to have got so up-close and personal with the space industry and people in it.

"When the general public goes they tour the space facility at Houston, they take a tram that goes around the Johnston Space Center, they go to Apollo Control, but they sit behind glass and get a lecture.

"While they were behind the glass, we were at Apollo Mission Control, at the desk, playing with the buttons, listening to a guy who worked at Apollo Control."

And she offers quick advice for any other students who might get the chance to go.

"Just actually DO IT! Don't be afraid of applying. Just go. You'll see the coolest things and see so many things the general public never gets to see.

"Represent your country well. Be yourself and don't shy away. It might just be the best two weeks of your life."